Here in New England we are experiencing one of the hottest summer that I can ever remember. I don't dare to complain to much because we complain all winter about the cold and the snow so when summer hits, I just like to enjoy it and endure it, however I can. One of the ways to do that is to go to the beach. What better way to enjoy the beach than to take my two little guys along for the ride.

I was over at the Cafe this morning and this weeks lesson for BB is to go on a scavenger hunt and post some photo's of what we find. Since it was just yesterday that we were at the beach, and one of the photo's that Kim posted was of someone she loved, I thought I would do the same. I sure do love my boys and so another episode of Wednesday With the Boys came to mind...

Wednesdays is my favorite day of the week. They boys come early and we always have breakfast together. Nana, Papa, Liam and now Jaxson joins us at the table..everyone eats something different, that's just how we roll around here on a Wednesday. After breakfast off to an adventure....every week.

When I was a small girl I lived 5 minutes from the beach. Back in the day, I would pack myself a lunch, get an old sheet or blanket, grab my doll and head for the beach. My Mom worked and my Grandmother took care of us 4 kids. She never asked when I would be back, I never had a life jacket, and lots of times I would go by myself and usually see whoever was there. When I got bored or the tide was to far out, I would come home, safe and sound.

Yesterday when I told Liam that we were going to the beach he said "I'm excited Nana, I haven't been to the beach in a long time". Didn't take much to get him moving and he even helped with the packing. While him and Papa were in the shed getting soooo many beach toys, I was making the lunch..again, something different for everyone. As I was making the lunch I was reminded of my childhood days and how much I loved the summer and the sea. It was always a wonderful day and still brings back lovely memories. I'm always hoping to make those memories for my Grandkids..

Time to load up the car and I have to tell you, when I went to the beach, I walked. I had to carry whatever it was I was taking. No cooler back then, brown paper bag. No sand chair, maybe a towel if I could sneak it out of the house. No life jacket, no blanket to speak of and no phone, and no change of clothes..you wore your bathing suit down and you wore it back. When I got done packing yesterday the back of my car was jammed, we even had a sled in there for Jaxson...he eats the sand, so I was going to keep him off of it, and it worked for the most part....

It was a beautiful, sunny day, warm. The kind of day that begs being outside. The kind of day that says, stay in the moment and enjoy. No reading, no napping, just playing with my boys. It was easy to see that they loved it also. Oh I take back the napping part, Jaxson fell asleep on the way over and anyone who knows Jaxson is aware if he falls asleep...leave him alone. Liam, on the other hand, is roaring to go, in a hundred directions all at once. He keeps Papa on his toes all the time. So they commenced with castle building, trying to catch little fish in Liam's net. They swam and found a frog and dug big holes. Then when Jaxson woke up and had a snack, Liam and Papa took him in the water in his sled around the waters edge. Then Liam decided to pull him in the sand. Jaxson, in all his naked baby beauty, held onto the sides and enjoyed every moment, laughing at this brother and his Papa...and yes a few times, when I took him in the water and we sat to play, he did get some sand for dessert...

Life is what we make it some days..you need to find the joy and go after it. These boys will be grown up faster than the sand drifting in and out on the tide. I know this because I know how fast my own kids grew up. All that we can give them is wonderful and lasting memories of their childhood. Summer is for fun, especially for kids. It should be full of beach trips, sand digging, building castles and yes, tons and tons of ice cream at the end of the day. Running outside, enjoying nature, finding and losing your favorite frog all in a matter of a minute. Naked babies and bounding boys...that's what summer was for me yesterday..and I loved every moment of it. Yes, I'm hoping to be building special memories for Liam and jaxson...but guess what, I'm building them for myself also and in the process I get to live in the memories of my own childhood and in the memories of summer fun with my kids. I am blessed to have these two boys not 5 minutes from my house and to also have them every Wednesday...Wednesday with the Boys is the Best.

So that's how my scavenger hunt started...I started with "someone you love"...and I promise during the rest of the week I'll go out and hopefully find some other great treasures..but If I don't, the Treasures I found yesterday will last me a life time.

Oh Cheryl, I wanna be your grandchild too! We never lived near the ocean or sea but we did have a lot of fun summers as kids playing in our large yard, or going to the country in Missouri to visit our grandparents. It is so nice to read how you make the visits so memorable with your family, especially these cute little guys. I hope the heat doesn't last too long. Here in Indiana, we had a real cool down Tuesday evening....maybe it will head your way soon. Beautifully written and photographed!

Memories . . . Love . . . Grandparents . . . Grandchildren . . . and a very unique and special Grandma who knows how to capture the moment and share it with beautiful verse and photographs.You are writing your book, you know! It's all here, just waiting to be published! Now I'm interested in this beach, as it seems more like a pond/lake area.So peaceful and perfect for play . . . and yes, Memories . . . Love . . . and your precious family.